LFU:online

Curr. 2021 § 5 (1) 13: Students acquire the ability to individually plan (research and study design, research hypotheses or heuristics, survey and evaluation procedure) and implement (data collection and evaluation as well as result presentation) an empirical sociological research project as well as to relate theory, methodology and empirical research.  

Mobilization of Law and Rights

In this two-semester course, students work in small groups to implement an empirical research project on a sociological question of their own choosing that relates to the topic of "mobilization of law and rights." Mobilization of law can be understood as any kind of procedure in which individuals or collectives invoke legal norms, institutions, discourses, or even legal symbols in order to address problems or conflicts that arise. Thus, possible research questions are diverse and include individual and collective forms of legal mobilization as well as the question of non-mobilization and alternatives to the legal resolution of conflicts.

In the first semester, an empirical research question is formulated and a research design developed that includes decisions on adequate data collection and evaluation methods. Even though the methodological focus is on qualitative research methods, quantitative approaches can be chosen or integrated. Based on the developed research design, questions of field access are clarified and (first) empirical surveys are conducted. The second semester focuses on the completion of the data collection stage and the analysis/interpretation of this data with evaluation methods adapted to them. Finally, the research results are structured by summary and a research report is drafted. The entire research process is accompanied by a permanent reflection of the steps taken and experiences gained as well as questions regarding ethical research aspects.

Active participation in the research project and in the small groups, reading of introductory texts on content and methods, research and independent acquisition of additional literature on methods or content, submission of an elaborated research concept incl. research question, submission of the group-led research diary incl. reflections on methods and application, carrying out empirical research and analysis as well as documentation and presentation of the steps and results, drafting of a written research report (group work).

(see above under chapter "Methods")

Fuchs, Gesine, 2021: Rechtsmobilisierung. Ein Systematisierungsversuch. Zeitschrift für Rechtssoziologie 41(1): 21-43.
Przyborski, Aglaja/Wohlrab-Sahr, Monika, 2010: Qualitative Sozialforschung. Ein Arbeitsbuch. 3. Aufl., München: Oldenbourg.
Additional literature will be announced at the beginning of the semester.

successful completion of compulsory modules 4 and 5